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The American University of Science and Technology, AUST, organized on Friday a seminar on the ‘genetically modified food in Lebanon’ under the sponsorship of the industry minister, Dr. Hussein Haj Hassan. The minister revealed that while the notion of GM foods is still uncommon in the country with the absence of a clear official policy and contradictory views in the US and Europe, there are a number of question marks on the safety and health of those foods. “It is an open scientific debate that has no final answers until now, but it is associated with economic, health, environmental and psychological implications,” explained Haj Hassan. He urged for an objective approach to the subject that raises awareness based on an independent and scientific discussion. “Since the ultimate aim desired from generating the so-called GM crops is to increase productivity and strengthen their potency and adaptation to agricultural mechanization, therefore it is a noble aim,” Haj Hassan said. He concluded by calling for regulating GMOs under clear national legislation which will be in harmony with food safety, the environment, and public health.

Al Diyar, May 8, 2016

 

In coordination with its Orientation and Guidance Office, the University of Arts, Sciences and Technology in Lebanon AUL, School of Tourism and Hospitality, organized yesterday its 16th job fair under the title, ‘AUL, Your Second Home for Communication’. Held at AUL Beirut campus, the exhibition was sponsored by president of the university, Adnan Hamzeh in the presence of more than 65 financial, banking and hospitality institutions, in addition to local and international eateries. On the occasion, the dean of the school of tourism, Bashir Mizher, stressed the importance of such events in maintaining a continued connection between students and the local labor market. AUL, he said, has for years run similar undertakings to facilitate vocational training, and then, the recruitment of its graduate students at companies in need of the various talents. Hamzeh, for his part, considered Lebanon to be a hub for promising youth skills which unfortunately are lost due to emigration. Job fairs like this, Hamzeh noted, enable students to communicate and collaborate with job generating establishments after graduation. (Al Diyar, May 6, 2016)

 

After the various sit-ins carried out by milk producers in Akkar and Zahleh, and poultry farmers and egg producers during last month, to demand the protection of domestic production, some progress was noted in addressing these two issues. 

As such, the Lebanese dairy producers seemed comfortable with the outcomes of the meeting held two days ago and which included representatives of the ministers of agriculture, industry and economy, and members of the National Committee for Milk and Owners of Dairy Factories. The meeting discussed challenges in the marketing of the domestic production of fresh milk, among other pressing issues. In this respect, engineer Kheir Jarrah, on behalf of the dairy farmers, shared with An Nahar newspaper the encouraging decisions taken at the end of the meeting namely 1) maintain the fixed price of one liter of fresh milk at LBP 1000, 2) stress the role of the Consumers Protection Department in monitoring dairy standards and specifications of dairy products, 3) set regulations for the import of milk, and 4) form a joint committee of representatives of the relevant ministries, farmers and factories to supervise implementation of above results. Meanwhile, the ministries of industry, agriculture and economy also discussed with a number of stakeholders in the poultry sector problems they face because of illegal imports of chicken and agreed to submit a proposal for raising the price of imported chicken and putting an end to the growing smuggling across the border. As concerning egg production, parties concerned agreed to increase the value of subsidies for exports carried through IDAL.

As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, May 4 and 5, 2016

 

Related previous news: 

Milk producers demand protection of domestic production

Poultry farmers stage a sit-in to demand protection against foreign competition

 

In a statement addressed to the government yesterday, the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, asked for an extension of the LBP 21 billion financial package which was earmarked to support the maritime export of made-in-Lebanon industrial and agricultural products to Arab countries, and that it after the expiry of the 7-month period originally set for the scheme. Gemayel also requested a broader and all-inclusive initiative to subsidize the cost of exports, in such a way that it covers all the importing countries and not just the Gulf countries, Iraq and Jordan which were targeted following the closure of the Syrian land borders. The industrialists' president clarified that his demand comes a result of the continuous decline in industrial exports and growing operational costs. The industrial sector, Gemayel concluded, has since 2012 lost nearly 30% of its exports, stressing that, with proper support, this vital sector will be able to offset the estimated USD one billion in losses which were recorded.

(As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, May 5, 2016)

 

The Lebanese International University LIU organized yesterday its 11th annual job fair under the sponsorship of Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi and with the presence of LIU president, Abdel Rahim Mrad and the participation of a large number of local companies representatives. On the occasion, Azzi reiterated his ministry’s efforts to protect and preserve the domestic workforce and control, without excluding the possibility of taking advantage of foreign skills. He said that Lebanon always needs expertise, but that the priority is for Lebanese workers, and “wherever there is a Lebanese who can fill an open vacancy, it would be a crime to replace him with someone who is not Lebanese, no matter his nationality or status.” Azzi warned of a systematic invasion by foreign nationals of various sectors of the labor market, noting that “the Lebanese are being disqualified and replaced by outsiders,” as he puts it. During another previous similar event, Azzi appealed to the Lebanese to boycott any corporation or institution that does not employ locals, and urged students to believe in their country and to seriously and whole-heartedly seek employment in Lebanon first. (Al Mustaqbal, May 5, 2016)

 

In its edition of today, As Safir daily devoted a feature highlighting a waning glass craft, particularly in Al Badawi region, as a result of the absence of government support of this domestic industry. Expounding on the subject, As Safir drew attention to the substantial decline in the artisan industry which saw the closure of two factories in the face of illegal competition from neighbouring Syria. One glass factory, the newspaper reported, still stands resilient with minimum survival skills and a sharp deficit suffered by its owners who urged officials for support to protect the trade that represents a major source of livelihood for tens of families. As Safir interviewed the owner of the above factory in Al Badawi area, Abdel Hamid Qubeitri, who complained that the profession, is largely abandoned and forsaken here. We went on to say that the competing industry is subsidized and protected by the government in Syria. He also decried the high operational costs of electricity and industrial diesel, which together with illegal competition is prompting Lebanese businesses to close.

As Safir, May 5, 2016

 

The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tawfic Dabbussi, distributed grants to four pioneer youth groups for their winning projects in line with the ‘Young Entrepreneurs of Tripoli-Lebanon Program’ applications, while noting that each grant amounted to USD 15 thousand. The ceremony was held last Thursday at the Chamber’s ‘Al Bayat’ business incubator and comes within the framework of partnership between the said incubator and UNDP in Lebanon. The program is aimed at training young entrepreneurs to improve the methodologies of their work plans and feasibility studies on various innovative undertakings. It also seeks to stimulate their self-motivated initiatives by enhancing their capacity to develop creative ideas into viable projects. Dabbussi praised the “dynamic and incessant role played by Al Bayat business incubator through its adoption of the developmental training program to empower young innovators and provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge that help start up or expand their projects.” (Al Diyar, An Nahar, April 29, 2016)

 

 

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar daily shed light on the so-called ‘milking cow loan’ program launched last week by the BML bank as part of its empowerment initiative to assist farmers in remote areas across Lebanon. The said program supports farmers aged between 21 and 66, and that is including retiree farmers,  in starting up agricultural enterprises that provide them with additional income. The newspaper also pointed out that the imported ‘Holstein’ breed of impregnated milking cows is expected to enter the country, each with an attached ‘passport’ including all the required info about its type, breed history and condition. The price of each cow, Al Akhbar reported, stands at LBP4 million, pointing out that the loan could reach some LBP20 million, which is equivalent to five heads of cattle, at about 20% interest rate. The newspaper talked to a number of cow breeders in the Bekaa area who complained about the high price of the imported cow as compared to the domestic market price which, they stressed, does not exceed LBP2.5 million. This, they explained, includes the necessary vaccines, adding, that the local cows produce an equal amount of milk daily. Likewise, BML general manager, Fadi Daouk, said the high interest cost is largely because of the small size of the loan, while underscoring the low repayment package which will stand at a maximum of LBP115 thousand, including veterinary checkup twice a month.

Al Akhbar, April 27, 2016

 

Previous related news: 

BML launches the milking cow program

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/bml-launches-milking-cow-program

The President of the Beirut Engineering Association (BEA), Khaled Chehab, warned against the useless number of graduate engineers who are flooding the local and international markets, underlying the significance of specialization in disciplines that represent an added value to those markets. Chehab, who was speaking yesterday at the American University of Beirut upon an invitation by students of the AUB Faculty of Agriculture, said “we lack the skills of professionals that fine-tune the execution of engineering projects.” He disclosed that similar to global orders of engineers, the BEA is seriously studying putting into use the test of merit for its membership as a routine to pinpoint the qualified and competent engineers. This decision, Chehab said, was taken after deliberation with deans of the schools of engineering in Lebanon and with academic and professional experts, and after the number of members in Beirut and Tripoli reached a peak of 60 thousand. He said it is time to curb the overwhelming number of students graduating from colleges that offer replicas of programs of foreign institutes. Finally, Chehab advised students to develop their knowledge and partake in seminars and training workshops in the various specialties. He asked them to visit the BEA website regularly for the latest announcements. (Al Mustaqbal, April 26, 2016)

 

The Office of Alumni Relations jointly with the Office of the Dean for Students Affairs at the Lebanese American University (LAU) organized last Friday a broad professional meeting under the title, ‘LAU Annual Business Network Ceremony’. For its tenth consecutive year, the event saw the participation of some 100 institutions and companies, with the aim to introduce the labor sector to the talents presented by the university and at the same time, familiarize the students with the labor market requirements.  

Meanwhile, the vocational and university faculties at Al Kafaat Foundation in Ain Saadeh-Fanar, Metn area, held an extensive orientation week for intermediate and high school students which attracted over 2500 guests and visitors. The foundation has set its action plan based on the goals expressed by Lebanese youth and with the aim of guiding them in selecting the appropriate disciplines available in the market, and given the variety of offered academic disciplines, which largely creates confusion among students. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, April 23 and 24, 2016)